A separator for a fuel cell includes a plurality of channels; and an inlet hole and an outlet hole formed in a first side and a second side of the plurality of channels, respectively, such that a reaction gas flows into and out from the separator to be exposed to a reaction surface including a membrane electrode assembly. The inlet hole is larger in size than the outlet hole.

A fuel cell stack is provided which manually increases the temperature of cells arranged in the vicinity of an end plate of the stack to improve starting performance of a fuel cell vehicle at temperatures below zero and driving performance thereof at low temperatures. The fuel cell stack realizes rapid thawing and heating functions in response to freezing of end cells when a vehicle is started at temperatures below zero, using a multilayer current collector having at least one thin collector plate which is structurally and sensitively expandable or contractible based on temperature changes.

A fuel cell stack is provided which manually increases the temperature of cells arranged in the vicinity of an end plate of the stack to improve starting performance of a fuel cell vehicle at temperatures below zero and driving performance thereof at low temperatures. The fuel cell stack realizes rapid thawing and heating functions in response to freezing of end cells when a vehicle is started at temperatures below zero, using a multilayer current collector having at least one thin collector plate which is structurally and sensitively expandable or contractible based on temperature changes.

The present invention relates to electrically conductive paths in planar substrates. Various embodiments provide a method of forming one or more electrically conductive paths in a planar substrate, wherein substantially none of the substrate is removed during formation of the path. In various embodiments, by avoiding the removal of substrate during formation of the electrically conductive path, problems caused by residual substrate material can be advantageously avoided. In various embodiments, the planar substrate with the electrically conductive path can be used to make a planar fuel cell array.

An electrical energy store is provided, including a storage cell, which in turn has an air electrode, which is connected to air channels in an air supply device, and a storage electrode, wherein the storage electrode adjoins a storage structure, wherein electrical contacts rest on the storage electrode, further wherein contact pins which protrude out of a surface of the storage structure are integrated in the storage structure, and the contact pins are in electrical contact with the storage electrode.

An electrical energy store is provided, including a storage cell, which in turn has an air electrode, which is connected to air channels in an air supply device, and a storage electrode, wherein the storage electrode adjoins a storage structure, wherein electrical contacts rest on the storage electrode, further wherein contact pins which protrude out of a surface of the storage structure are integrated in the storage structure, and the contact pins are in electrical contact with the storage electrode.

Molten carbonate fuel cell configurations are provided that allow introduction of an anode input gas flow on a side of the fuel cell that is adjacent to the entry side for the cathode input gas flow while allowing the anode and cathode to operate under co-current flow and/or counter-current flow conditions. Improved flow properties can be achieved within the anode or cathode during co-current flow or counter-current flow operation by diverting the input flow for the anode or cathode into an extended edge seal region (in an extended edge seal chamber) adjacent to the active area of the anode or cathode, and then using a baffle to provide sufficient pressure drop for even flow distribution of the anode input flow across the anode or cathode input flow across the cathode. A second baffle can be used to create a pressure drop at the anode or cathode exit.

An electrochemical cell includes: a metal substrate having a principal surface and a plurality of connecting holes formed in the principal surface; and a cell body disposed on the principal surface. The cell body has: a gas diffusion layer disposed on the principal surface, the gas diffusion layer being electrically conductive; a first electrode layer disposed on the gas diffusion layer; a second electrode layer; and an electrolyte layer disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. In a plan view of the principal surface, at least a portion of an outer edge of the gas diffusion layer has a wave shape in which a peak portion and a valley portion are alternately continuous with each other.

An electrochemical cell includes: a metal substrate having a principal surface and a plurality of connecting holes formed in the principal surface; and a cell body disposed on the principal surface. The cell body has: a gas diffusion layer disposed on the principal surface, the gas diffusion layer being electrically conductive; a first electrode layer disposed on the gas diffusion layer; a second electrode layer; and an electrolyte layer disposed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer. In a plan view of the principal surface, at least a portion of an outer edge of the gas diffusion layer has a wave shape in which a peak portion and a valley portion are alternately continuous with each other.

A fuel cell having an air electrode provided on one surface of a solid oxide electrolyte layer; a fuel electrode on the other surface thereof; and a separator 11 on the air electrode. A middle layer is further provided between the separator and the air electrode in order to suppress the diffusion of constitutional elements of the air electrode to the separator.